MEPs are set to give their final approval to the reform of the EU’s Blue Card directive, to facilitate the employment of highly qualified third country nationals in Europe. In May 2021, Parliament and Council negotiators agreed on a revision of the 2009 Blue Card directive to make it easier for employers in EU member states […]
Read More
European money to countries that respect the Rule of Law
Four out of five respondents say the EU should only provide funds to Member States that respect the rule of law and democratic principles. 60% of Europeans expect NextGenerationEU projects to help their country overcome the economic and social damage brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. 41% question the capacity of their national governments to […]
Read More
The European Data Protection Board calls for a modification of WhatsApp
On July 28th, the EDPB adopted a dispute resolution decision on the basis of Art. 65 GDPR. This binding decision seeks to address the dispute arisen following a draft decision issued by the Irish (IE) SA as lead supervisory authority (LSA) regarding WhatsApp Ireland Ltd. (WhatsApp IE) and the subsequent objections expressed by a number of […]
Read More
Independence of Polish judges
Commission asks European Court of Justice for financial penalties against Poland on the activity of the Disciplinary Chamber Yesterday, the European Commission took two separate decisions, both related to decisions of the Court of Justice and where the actions of the Polish authorities continue to undermine the functioning of the Polish justice system. First, the […]
Read More
The EU and AstraZeneca agree on COVID-19 vaccine supply and on ending litigation
The EU and AstraZeneca have reached an agreement which will secure the delivery of the remaining COVID-19 vaccine doses to Member States under the terms of the Advance Purchase Agreement concluded on 27 August 2020 with AstraZeneca. The agreement will also end the pending litigation before the Brussels Court. Commissioner for Health and Food Safety […]
Read More
New measures against money laundering and financing of terrorism
The European Commission has presented an ambitious package of legislative proposals to strengthen the EU’s anti-money laundering and countering terrorism financing (AML/CFT) rules. The package also includes the proposal for the creation of a new EU authority to fight money laundering. This package is part of the Commission’s commitment to protect EU citizens and the […]
Read More
Extraordinary EU meeting and concerted response on Afghanistan
At the extraordinary meeting on 31 August, in Brussels, EU Home affairs ministers discussed recent developments in Afghanistan, more specifically in relation to potential implications in the areas of international protection, migration and security. The Council adopted a statement on the matter. A unified response on the impact of the situation in Afghanistan on the […]
Read More
Puigdemont’s petition dismissed and his loss of parliamentary immunity confirmed
On January 13 and February 10, 2020, the European Parliament received requests to waive the immunity of Mr. Carles Puigdemont i Casamajó, Mr. Antoni Comín i Oliveres and Ms. Clara Ponsatí i Obiols, elected members of Parliament. The purpose of these petitions, presented by the President of the Second Chamber of the Supreme Court in […]
Read More
2021 Rule of Law Report
The European Commission has published the second EU-wide Report on the Rule of Law with a Communication looking at the situation in the EU as a whole and dedicated country chapters on each Member State. The 2021 report looks at the new developments since last September, deepening the assessment of issues identified in the previous report and taking […]
Read More